A volcano on an uninhabited island in the Galapagos is putting on a fiery show, lighting up the nighttime sky with a dazzling display of lava cascading down its slopes toward the ocean. La Cumbre volcano on Fernandina island started erupting on a Saturday around midnight, marking what experts from Ecuador's Geophysical Institute believe could be its most significant eruption since 2017. This 1,476-meter (4,842-foot) volcano last showed its might in 2020.
Social media is buzzing with images captured by visitors to the Galapagos, showcasing the volcano starkly silhouetted against a backdrop of crimson red skies. Despite the spectacle, there's no need for alarm, as the eruption doesn't pose any danger to humans. However, the island is a crucial habitat for various species, including iguanas, penguins, and flightless cormorants. In 2019, scientists made an incredible discovery on the island—a giant tortoise thought to be extinct for over a century.
La Cumbre volcano is renowned for its activity, being one of the most active in the Galapagos Island chain. These islands are world-famous for their role in Charles Darwin's groundbreaking work on evolution. His observations here in the 19th century contributed significantly to the development of his theory of evolution.
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